Plattsburgh's huge playground for outdoors people

As we crossed the road and headed toward the cornfield, we could hear the occasional crowing of cock pheasants originating from the inner portions of the still-standing grain field. I thought, "It's been a while since I hunted state-stocked pheasants on state-owned lands, but this appears to have some promise." This occurred a couple weeks ago, during the New York State Outdoor Writers Association's Annual Fall Conference, held this year in Plattsburgh and centered at the Holiday Inn on Route 3.

The bustling city of Plattsburgh is probably most noted by non-residents for two things – once being the home to the large Air Force base that was closed in 1995, and being situated on the northern third of Lake Champlain, less than a half-hour drive from the Canadian border. Plattsburgh hosted the oldest military post in the United States, purchased by the Federal Government on Dec.30, 1814. It originally consisted of only 200 acres and was known as the "Plattsburgh Barracks." Many different types of units have served at Plattsburgh over the years, using a variety of weapons, from muskets and cannons to the sophisticated FB-111As and KC-135s. What was the military base is now Plattsburgh International Airport and a new passenger terminal is slated to be finished in 2007.

Plattsburgh's early importance was due to its location on Lake Champlain, as the lake provided the only method of Colonial transportation trough the wilderness area of what is now New York State and Vermont. At the beginning of the War of 1812, Plattsburgh again became a center of military activity. On Sept.3, 1814, 14,000 British troops crossed the Canadian border and started advancing south. The British met little resistance until they reached the town of Plattsburgh. Brigadier General Macomb with a total force of 1,500 regulars and 700 militia stopped the British land force at the Saranac River by burning the bridge in order to make any British crossing a costly one.

For a short time during 1942 and 1943, the base became a training site for combat engineers. Then in 1944, it was turned over to the Navy and became Camp MacDonough, an indoctrination school for officers. In 1953 the base was then returned to the Federal government for use as a Strategic Air Command bomber base and was renamed Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

Plattsburgh was founded by Zephaniah Platt in 1785 and the city government was established in the former Village of Plattsburgh in 1902. Aside from its strategic military location, it is home to SUNY Plattsburgh and a node for tourists headed west to the Adirondack Mountains. It is also home to The Kent Delord House Museum, once the British Headquarters during the Battle of Plattsburgh. Visitors can now walk through its rooms, furnished in the Victorian era. The museum is located at 35 Cumberland Avenue in downtown Plattsburgh and is open daily all year. Tours are self-guided; group tours are available by appointment.